Wrapping machine



July 5,1927. 1,634,711

1 M. B. FERGUSON WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1925 4 Sheets-'Sheet l1@ NJWL@ Q@ ml m E@ 1 ATTORNEY :j I mmvf. mw o a, QM

lll Il r1// l 634- 711 July 5 1927' M. B. FERGUSON WRAPPING MACHINEFiled Deo. 15, 1925 4 shets-sneet 2 a H @Q S l@ WEEE@ mm d w .f .1, www.3% .si=H.E....Mwwv..www@ .e mlim-- hw- E E l en m/Jmwn 1 QQ NQ Q @N9 Q@Q July 5, 1927. 1,634,711

M. B. FERGUSON WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Deo. 15. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheejc 5ATTORNEY July 5 1927' M. B. FERGUSON WRAPPING MACHINE y Filed Dec. 15,1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 F-,j g 9 if 93 ff 94 d? v hynmzUWw l? E97Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES 'Pa'rlsn'rl OFFICE.

MILFORD B. FERGUSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF '10EDWARD HAAS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. i

WRAPIN'G MACHINE.

Application-filed December 15, 1925. Serial 75,498.

The inventionl relates to an improvement in wrapping machines and moreparticularly to devices for completing the wrapping of a partiallywrapped article.

The devices of the present inventlon may be applied to and used inconjunction with wrapping machines of usual construction for wrappingelongated rectangular artlcles in which fouriseparate--and distinctfolds are'made in the ends of the wrapper. The wrapping machine to whichthe devices of the present invention may be-applied is asi sumed 'topossess means for folding the wrapper about the article longitudinally,

leaving the ends of the wrapper projecting longitudinally beyond theends of the article. Each projecting end of the wrapper consists of foursides, each of which constitutes a flap or fold. The'wrapping ma-r chinewill also vpossess means for folding down two of these flaps, usuallythe two narrower aps. The two wider end liaps usually overlap and holdin place the two narrower end flaps. The foregoing observations apply toarticles which are oblong in cross-section.

Of course if the articles are substantially square in cross-section allthe end flaps,-

both the folded flaps and the projecting flaps will be substantially ofthe same slze,

In this case it is assumed than any twoA pairs 'of the flaps are folded,usuallybut not necessarily thegside flaps. The devices of the presentinvention -have to do more particularly with thefolding down of the-wider end or projecting end flaps.

The object of the presentinvention is to provide a wrapping machine withimproved -devices for folding down the last two end {iaps of the articlein such a way that the folds will be made tighter than has heretoforebeen possible, with the result that the' wrapped article wlll present asmoother and ncater appearance. To this end the invention consists 1nthe lmproved wrapping machine.I hereinafter described and particu larlypointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of theinvention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of thedelivery end of a Wrapping machine showing the improvements o f thepresent invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a plan, with parts brokenaway, of the transport mechanism; Fig. 3 is a top plan of the parts'shown in Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a side elevation,

partly in section, similarto Fig. 1, but with certain parts broken awayand the transport mechanism shown in a different position; Figs. 5 and 6are sections, on an enlarged scale, taken alongfthe lines 5-5 and 6 6,respectively, of Fig. l; Fig. 7 is a plan, on an enlarged scale, of aportion of .the transport mechanism and vof the devices for making thebottom -end folds; Fig. 8 is an inner side elevation of one of thedevices vfor folding the two last end folds; and Figs. 9 to 1,2,inclusive, illustrate the various steps 1n making the end folds of thepackage.

lIn the drawings there is shown only so -much of `a wrapping machine ofusual conapplication ofthe devices of the present invention thereto andtheir cooperation therewith. The wrapping machine is adapted to fold thewrapper longitudinally about an article and deliver it 1n the conditionturned down against` the ends of the article while the latter is in themain folding devices of the wrapping machine, which are indicatedby theportion "22 thereof shown at Vthe left in Figs. 1 and 3. v*These foldingdevices are'provided with two pusher'members 23 of usualconstruction-and operation having the forwardly projecting lugs'24 whichserve to turn down the first folds 2O against the ends of the carton orother article.

The pushers 23 are actuated to eject the partially wrapped article fromthe jaws 22 and to shove it between the folder members 25 by whichthesecond pair of end fla s 18 are folded down against the ends of thearticle. The folder members 25 are located at the entrance end of arunway through which are articles pass and are supported from the tablemembers 26 resting on the frame 21 forming a part of the wrapping'machine The table members 26 project forvices of the present inventionand the ar-l ticles are then delivered from the machine onto an endlessconveyor 31 the forward end of which passes over a pulley 32 journaledin brackets 33 projecting forwardly from the table members 26. A plate27 supported from the frame of the machine is located above the platformat the entrance of the runway to keep the longitudinal folds in place.The platform 30 1s supported at its inner end by an adjustable bracket34 sel cured to a plate 35 spanning the table members 26. The middle ofthe platform 30 1s supported by-the upright 36 and the outer end of theplatform is supported by the cross-piece 37 resting on the arms 38 projecting forwardly from the brackets 33. The inner end of the conve or 31rests on a table 39, the inner end o which is supported by thecross-piece 40 secured to the arms 38.

The articles are advanced through the runway to complete the folding ofthe wrapper by means of a transport mecha-- nism comprising thelongitudinallyextending arms 42 an upwardly projectingl aligned fingersfor engaging the articles. Thev arms 42'and 43 are'sldingly supported onthe longitudinally extending rods 45 by means of the crossrods 46 and 47the outer ends of which are provided with the heads 48 which looselyyembrace the rods 45. The inner or left hand ends of the rods 45 areprovided with the j heads 49 the downwardly projecting lugs 50 of whichare pivotally connected with the upper arms 51 of the bell-crank levers52 fixed to the cross-rod 54 journaled at its opposite ends in the tablemembers 26. The outer or right hand ends of the rods 45 are providedwith the heads 56 of which the downwardly projecting lug parts 57 arepivotally connected with the upper arms 58 of the helLCranks 59 securedto the rod 60 which is journaled at its ends in the table members 26 inthe same manner in which the rod 54 is journalcd therein.

-The free ends of the lower arms 62 of the bell-cranks 59 are connectedby a crossrod 63 which is connected by the link 64 to la cross rod 65connecting the lower arms 66 ot' the bell-cranks 52, so that the twobell- 43 provided with" pairs of' of the lever carries a cam roll 72which travels in the cam path 73 of a cam 74 fixed on a transverse shaft75 journaled in the frame 21 and actuated by the driving mechanism ofthe wra ping machine. The arm 68 is provided witli an arcuate slot 70 sothat the link 67 may be adjustably connected therewith to control theamount of rise and fall of the transport mechanism.

When the levers 52 and 59 have been actuated to'raise the rods 45, thetransport members 42 and 43 are moved outwardly from the wrappingmachine (to the right, viewing Fig. 1) to advance the articles one stepin their progress through the runway. lVhen the levers 52 and 59 havebeen actuated to lower the rods 45, the transport members 42 and 43 aremoved inwardly or toward the wrapping machine to place them in positionfor the next step in the advancement of the articles through the runway.For this purpose a lever 77, mounted on a rod 69 spanning the frame 27and actuated from the cam 78 fixed on the shaft 75, is connected bymeans of the link 79 with the transverse rod 47 which connects the innerends of the transport pieces 42 and 43.

In order to relieve the cam 74 of the burden of lifting the transportmechanism a spring 44 isprovided, connected at one end to the cross-rod65 and at the other end to a hook secured in a cross'plece 41 spanningthe outer ends of the table members 26. Thisspring is so arranged as toexert its tension to lift the transport mechanism, the spring beingexpanded by the weight of the transport mechanism as it descends underthe action of gravity aided by the cam 74.

The first position of the partially wrapped article '(shown in Fig. 10)is indicated by the dotted lines 8O in Fig. 3 which corresponds to thearticle 16 in Fig. 4. pushers 23 deliver the article to this positionthereby completing the folding down of the second pair of end flaps 18(as described above), leavin the article resting on the inner end of t eplatform 30. The article with its two pairs of wider fiaps 17 and 19projecting longitudinally from the ends of the article is advanced fromthis position to the next position, indicated at 82 in Figs. 3 and 4, bythe first pair of fingers 83 of the transport mechanism. In travelingfrom its first to its second position nothing occurs lo the end flaps 17and 19 of the article. The article simply passes into position betweenthe folder arms 85 extending inwardly or,

rearwardly from their bases 86 resting on the brackets 33. The folderarms 85 are so located that the bottom flaps 19 pass under them, whereasthe upper flaps 17 pass over them, as will be clearly understood from aconsideration of Figs. 3 and 4. By further.

reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the transport members 42 and 43are arranged outside the lateral edges of the platform so that the pairsof aligned fingers -which project upwardly from the transportl membersare free to advance thc articles through the runway.

Thile the article is Lin thissecond position the bottom end flaps 19 arefolded up lagainst. the ends of the article, overlapping the first folds18 and 20. This is done by means of the folder blades 88 secured to theraised portions 89 on the transportmembers.

the trails-port mechanism rises they will passl upwardly in closeproximity to the folder arms 85, as indicated in Fig. 5. By reference tothis ligure it will be seen that when the folder blades 88 move upwardlyto fold the bottom end flaps 19 against the \ends of the article, theflaps 19 will be pushed against the lower edges of the folder arms 85which will therebyl'eXert a drag or friction upon the ends of the 4flapsas 'the folder blades 88 are pushing them up into place against the endsof the article indicated at 89. This mode of operation causes the awrapper to be drawn tight against theunder surface of the article andagainst theends thereof. The action of the folder blades 88 in foldingthe flaps 19 against the ends Iof the larticle is indicated in. dottedlines in Fig. 5, where it is clearly shown how the folder arms 85 exerta dragon the outer ends of the flaps 19 duringy the folding operation.To'clear the bottom end corners of the artic-les the blades 88 flareoutwardly slightly. e

The folding of the bottom flaps 19 against the ends of the article takesplace as the transport mechanism is rising to position to place thetransport fingers to the rear of the articles preliminary to advancingthem -another'step through the runway. During the folding of the aps 19while the article is in the position 82 the end folds 18 are held tightagainst the ends of the articles by means of the spring fingers 93secured to the outer surfaces ofthe folder arms 85 and projectinginwardly therefrom, as clearly indicated in Figs'. 5 and 7. lsloldingthe end folds'18 against thev ends of the package by the spring fingers93 prevents the longitudi` nalside fold v21 from separating from thepaekaee as the bottom laps19 'are folded.

i into p ace. If the side fold 21 is-permitted 85 are spaced fartherapart than the outer or righthand ends 94 thereof. The reason for thisis to permit the outwardly flaring folder blades 88 to pass upwardlybetween the inner ends of the arms 85 into lposition folding the ilaps19loosely against the ends of the'article and then by means of thecontracted space between the ends 94 to force the blades 88 inwardlythereby pressing the flaps 19 tightly against the articley so that theywill snugly lie thereagainst during the folding of the upper flaps 17over the fla s 19. On the completion ofthe folding of t e flaps 19 thearticle is in the condition shown in Fig. 11. It is then advanced toitsthird position 90 between the contracted outer ends 94 of the folderarms 85 by means of the second pair of fingers 91. While the ar'- ticlepasses `from position 82 to position 90 no 'action takes place otherthan the pressing of the folds 19 tightly against the ends` lof thearticle.

On `the third rise or'upward motion of the transport mechanism the basepart 96 of the third pair of lingers 97 encounters the Yunder surfacesof the article and push the article up between the folder plates98'yieldingly support-ed at their inner ends by the goose-neck brackets99 jrising from the .brackets 33 and yieldinglyJsupported at their.

outer-ends. by the brackets 100 also mounted on the brackets 33. Thesefolder plates 98 are arranged pa-rallelly with the folder arms 88 andthe inner endsthereof are located above the outer ends 94 of the folderarms 85. The lower edges 101 of the inner ends of the folder plates 98are spaced from. the upper edges of therear ends 94 of the folder arms85 so as to permit the upper flaps 17 to pass therebetween. As aresultfof this construction, when the bases 96 of the third pair offingersy 97 push the article upwardly between the forward end of thefolder plates 98, the upper flaps 17 are turned down against the ends ofthe article, overlapping the bottom flaps or folds'19. (The article isnow vcompletely wrapped, as shown in Fig. 12.

i On the next forward movement of the transport mechanism after thearticle has been pushed up between thef inner'ends of the folder plates98, the third pair of fingers carry the article to its fourth `position-indi-l cated at 102 in Figs. 3 and 4. Although 'the upward movement ofthe article'between the inner ends of the folder plates 98 serves"usually to complete the folding l of the,

article, it. happens at times .that an extra long wrapper may be used,the ends of which are not completely folded down'against the` ends ofthe article by the upward movement of the article between the folderplates. In such case, as the article passes from its position betweenthe inner ends of the folder plates 98 to its position between the outerends of the plates 98, the outwardly extending part of the end flaps 17encounter the oblique portion 103 of the under edges of the outer endsof the folder' plates 98 and are thereby folded down against the underfolds 19. f

While the article is traveling from its third position 90 to its fourthposition 102, it rests on the base portions 96 of the third pair offingers 97. When the fingers 97 become disengaged from the article byreason ofthe downward and rearward movement of the transport mechanism,the article is held between the outer ends of the folder plates 98, asshown in Fig. 4. On the next upward and forward movement of thetransport mechanism, the fourth pair of fingers 1,04 will engage andpush the article forward to its fth position 105 between the inner endsof the plates 106 and 107 which are supported at their `inner ends fromthe brackets 33 and at their outer ends by the angle irons 108 mounted011 the outer ends of the arms 38. The plate 107 .is provided with theyieldingly mounted sections 109 which engage with the ends of thearticles. lfVhen the articles pass out from between the outer ends ofthe folder plates 98 they drop down onto the raised portion 110 of theplatform l30. They are thence delivered by the last two pairs of fingers111 onto the receiving end of the, conveyor 81, the wrapped articlesaccumulating on the discharge end of the' platform being pushed off oneat a time.

The devices of the present invention are particularly adapted forwrapping the outside wrapper, which is usually of paraflined paper,about a box or carton. In order that the wrapper may stay in its foldedcondition completely enclosing the box or carton and hermetic-allysealing it, it is customary to heat portions of the folding devices soas to cause the paraflin of the overlapping folds to melt and runtogether, and thereby seal and hold the folds. In the drawingaccompanying the present application I show heating devices for heatingthe end folds only. These devices are indicated at 113 in Fig. 3 and areshown attached toi-he outer surfaces of the folder plates 98. While thewrapped and sealed articles are passing between the plates 106 and 107,the paraffin becomes cold enough to set, so that the wrapper will beheld folded about the carton or other article.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new is 1. A machinefor wrapping articles compr1s1ng, means for receiving a partlallyVwrapped article having the two wider end flaps projectinglongitudinally from the article, two statlonary members spaced from theends of the article and adapted to engage the inner surfaces of one pairof fiaps, means arranged to move between the ends of the article and themembers to fold the flaps against the article, the members serving toexert a drag on the flaps as they are folded against the article, andmeans for folding the other iaps against the ends of the article.

2. A machine for wrapping articles comprising, a runway for receiving apartially wrapped article having the two wider end flaps projectinglongitudinally from the article, a transport mechanism arranged toreciprocate vertically and longitudinally for intermittently advancingthe article through the runway, t-wo stationary members located at thefirst station to which the transport mechanism carries the article, twofolder blades secured to the transport mechanism and arranged to passbetween the members and the ends of the article to fold one pair of theflaps against the ends of the article,

and means for folding the other flaps against the article.

3. A machine for wrapping articles and the like comprising, a runway forreceiving a partially wrapped article having two pairs of end flapsprojecting longitudinally from the ends of the article, a transportmechanism arranged to reciprocate longitudinally and vertically for'intermittently advancing the article throughthe runway, a stationarymember' located at each side of the runway and under which the lowerflap ofthe adjacent end of the article passes, folder blades secured tothe transport mechanism and arranged to pass between the members andlthe ends of the article to fold the lower aps against the ends of thearticle, the members serving to exert a drag on the fiaps, and means forfolding the upper end flaps against the article.

4. A machine for wrapping articles comprising', means for receiving apartially wrapped article having two pairs of end flaps projectinglongitudinally from the article, two stationary members spaced apartfrom the ends of the article and located over the lower pair of flaps,means for passing between the stationary members and the adja-A centends of the article to fold the bottom flaps against the ends of thearticle, and means for folding the other pair of flaps against the endsof the article.

5. A machinefor wrapping articles comy 'pl-ising, means for receiving apartially the end of the article and the member to fold the flap againstthe end of the article, the member serving to exert a drag on the flapas it is folded against the end of the article.

6. A machine for wrapping articles c0mprising, means for receiving apartially wrapped article having two end flaps projecting longitudinallyfrom each end -of the article and two end flaps folded against each endof the article, two members spaced from the ends of the article andarranged to engage with the inner surface 0f one pair of projectingflaps at a point relatively near the ends of the article, means forengaging the outer surfaces of the pair of iaps at a point between themembers and the ends of the article to fold the pair of flaps againstthe ends of theV article, and means for folding the other pair of flapsagainst the ends of the article.

7. A machine for wrapping articles comprising, a runway for receiving apartially wrapped article with the two wider end flaps projectinglongitudinally from the top and bottom of the article, a pair of folderarms located in the runway between which the article is adapted to passwith the bottom pair of fiaps extending under the folder arms and theupper pair of flaps extending ze above the folder arms, a spring fingerconnectcd with each inner end of the folder arms and projecting towardthe ends of the article to engage with one of the pairs of narrow endfolds, thereby centering the article between the folder arms, means forfolding the lower pair of fiaps againsty the article, and means forfolding the upper pair of flaps over the lower pair.

S A machine for wrapping articles comprising, a runway for receiving apartially wrapped article having upper and lower end flaps projectinglongitudinally from 'the article, a pair of folder arms located in therunway, the lower pair of iiaps passing under the arms 'and the upperpair of flaps passing above the arms, the inner ends of said arms beingspaced apart wider than the outer ends of said arms, a pair of folderblades adapted to pass upwardly between the arms for folding the lowerpair of flaps against the ends of the article, means for advancing' thearticle while the folder blades are against the lower pair'of flapsbetween the outer ends of the folder arms to thereby press the lowerpair of flaps tightly against the ends ofthe article, and means forfolding the upper pair of aps over the lower pairn MILFORD B. FERGUSON.

